Thermostatic steam and hot-water mixer.



M. O. SNEDIKER. THERMOSTATIC STEAM AND HOT WATER MIXER. APPLICATION HLED FEB. 23. 1917.

1,243,999. Patented Oct. 23, 1917.

a a citizen of the United States. and resident UNITED STATES PATENT OF MORTON O. SNEDIKER. OF CHICAGO. ILLINOIS. ASSIGNOR TO POWERS REGULATOR GOMPANY,-OF CHICAGO. ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

THERMOSTATIC STEAM AND HOT-WATER MIXER.

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, Monrox 0. Quantum,

of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Thermostatic Steam and Hotater Mixers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relatesto a novel thermostatically-controlled mixing device for use in combining cold water and steam and thereby to be enabled to deliver a supply of water at a predetermined temperature.

The present device is an improvment upon that shown in the patent of Powers and Snediker, No. 1,195,722, dated August 27th, 1916.

Difiiculty has heretofore been experienced in providing a practical mixer for steam and cold water which shall not be objectionable in certain particulars. One of the chief objections is that of the noise occasioned by the combination of the relatively high pressure steam and cold water. A second objection is the danger of scalding if for any reason the supply of cold water should be interrupted.

In the construction disclosed in the patent to which I have just referred the mixer was intended for hot and coldwater. In adapting the same to the mixing of cold water and steam I have made certain improvements.

' first, in'the matter of simplicity, both as to manufacture and repairing, and,.second, in the disposition of the parts in order that the operation shall be noiseless. The latter result is secured by providing a mixing chamber which surrounds a thermostatically-controlled steam valve and by providing in the walls of the chamber a plurality of relatively small apertures through which the cold Water is admitted. By reason of this arrangement it will be seen that the cold water is ejected across the entering stream of steam. The streams are thus so subdivided as to effect the absorption of heat from the steam and the condensation of the steam without noise or shock. Irrespective of the quantity of steam admitted around the valve, the stream is relatively thin and all portions thereof are brought into intimate contact with the entering small streams of Water.

The additional improvements relate to the simplicity of the design and provide for the Specification of Letters Patent.

steam admitted around the valve. of this arrangement there is no noise follow- Pa-tented Oct. 23, 1917.

Application filed February 23, 1917. Serial No. 150,460.

suitable nipples to check valves 11, 12, which in turn are connected to cold water and steam lines, respectively. The valve casing is divided by a transverse wall 13, having a threaded opening within which a valve seat is located. This seat member has a threaded portion 14, and a flange portion 15. Lugs 16, are provided on the face of the flanged portion, these lugs being adapted to be engaged by a spanner. The seat is formed at 17, on the threaded portion 14, and. is adapted to be engaged by the valve member 18. The lower portion of the valve member is formed of intersecting web members 19. the edges of which are in guiding contact with the walls which surround the axial opening through the seat member. The upper portion of the valve is in the form of a cup. the vertical annular flange 20, of which acts to deflect the steam admitted thcrearouiul into close proximity tothe walls of the diffuser 21. The diffuser surrounds the valve member and serves to define a portion of the mixing chamber. It is in the form of a cylinder, having a relatively large number of apertures or perforations 22, therein and is held in proper position by contact: thereof with the casing 23. which supports the thermostat hereinafter described, the tapered portions of the diffuser and the casingbeing brought into engagement when the parts are screwed in place.

The diffuser just described serves to control the passageof cold water into the mixing chamber and by reason of the relatively small apertures in the wall of the diffuser, the water is subdivided and caused to enter across the entering thin stream or sheet of Because ing the condensation of the steam.

Inasmuch as it may occasionally be necessary to repair or resurface the seats of the valve members, I have made provision for ready access thereto. At a point just beneath. the valve members I provide a large threaded opening within which the threaded upper endof a cylindrical spring container 24:, is mounted. This member 24, may be bodily removed with its contained parts to permit of the removal of the seat member and its associated valve. Within the upper end of the cylindrical member 24, is seated a disk 25, having drain openings 26, therein, and which serves as a guide for a loose plunger 27 The upper end of the plunger engages the lower portion of the valve member and the lower end of the plunger bears against a spring cap 28. A spring 29, 1s confined between the cap 28, and a seat 30, and an adjusting screw 31, is adapted to vary the compression on the springas required. A tapped and plugged opening 32, provides for draining as required.

In order that the steam valve may be suitably controlled and thereby deliver water at a predetermined temperature, I provide the thermostat specifically described and claimed in the Powers and Snediker patent, to which I have heretofore referred. The thermostat includes a rigid casing 33, fixedly mounted within an outer casing 23, 34:, and adapted to contain a quantity of a liquid having a low boiling point. Within the container and anchored at one end thereof are a plurality of metallic diaphragm'bellows A rod or plunger 36, contacts with a portion of the bellows at one end and with the steam valve at the other end. An increase in temperature causes an expansion of the liquid within the container 33, and the compression of the diaphragms, which are in communication with the atmosphere, through the opening 37. This actuates the rod 36, and closes the steam valve a ainst the compression of the spring 29. T e supply of cold liquid may be maintained substantially constant, the supply of steam being varied. as re uired in order to maintain the necessary de ivery temperature.

The exact form and arrangement of the parts is not considered essential and modifications may be made therein without departure from the spirit of my invention.

ll claim:

1. In a hot and cold fluid mixer, the combination of a valve casing having an inlet for a Hot fluid and an inlet for a cold fluid, a thermostatically actuated valve for controlling the entrance of hot fluid, and means at the point of convergence of the hot and cold fluids for subdividing the cold fluid into a plurality of small streams, substantially as described.

2. In'a fluid mixer, the combination of a valve casing having an inlet for a hot fluid and an inlet for a cold fluid, a valve therein,

naaaeee a thermostat for controlling said valve, said valve serving to regulate the supply of hot fluid, and means located at the junction of the hot and cold fluid lines for subdividing the cold fluid into a plurality of small streams and discharging the same across the entering stream of hot uid, substantially as described.

3. In a steam and cold water mixer, the combination of a casing having an inlet for steam and an inlet for water and being shaped to effect the confluence of the two fluids, a thermostatically-controlled valve for the steam, said valve being shaped to permit of the escape of steam in a thin film, a diffuser located adjacent to said valve and constructed to provide for the delivery of cold water in thin streams across the entering film of steam, substantially as described.

4:. A noiseless mixer for steam and cold water including, in combination, a casing having an inlet for steam and an inlet for cold water, a valve located at the conflux of the two streams of fluid and adapted to efl'ect the admission of the steam in a thin stream, and a perforated wall covering the cold water opening and causing the discharge of water in a plurality of thin streams at an angle to the stream of steam, substantially as described.

5. A noiseless mixer for steam and cold water including in combination a casing providing a mixing chamber having inlets for steam and cold water, a valve for controlling the admission of steam into said chamber, and a difl'user in the form of a perforated cylinder for controlling the admission of cold water into the chamber, both. the steam and water being delivered in thin streams and bein brought into contact while flowing at substantially right angles to each other, substantially as described.

6. A mixing device for steam and water including in combination a casing providing a mixing chamber having inlets for steam and cold water, a thermostatically actuated steam valve, and a perforated cylinder defining said mixing chamber and restricting the flow of cold water into said chamber, substantially as described.

7. A mixer for vapor and liquid including in combination, a mixing chamber, a valve-controlled inlet for the steam, .said inlet being so disposed as to discharge the steam in a thin sheet in proximity to and in a line parallel with the walls of the mixing chamber, said walls being provided with a'plurality of spaced inlet openings for liquid, substantially as described.

8. A mixerfor steam and cold water including, in combination, a casing having inlets or steam and water, a valve member,

a difluser at the point of confluence of the steam and cold water, said difluser being in the form of a perforated cylinder, an annular flange mounted on the valve member and spaced away from the inner periphery of said cylinder, the steam entering around said valve being caused to travel in a fine stream along the walls of said difi'user, and means for actuating said valve, substantially as described.

9. In a mixer for cold water and steam, the combination of a casing having entrance openings for the two fluids, an outlet for the combined fluids, a removable valve seat mounted in said casing, a valve cooperating with said seat and bodily removable therewith, said casing being provided with an opening opposite to said outlet through which said valve seat may be removed, and means for closing said opening, substantially as described.

10. In a mixer for cold water and steam, the combination of a casing providing two inlets, an outlet and a seat-removing opening oppositely disposed to said outlet, a seat removably mounted within said casing, a valve slidable in and adapted to be removed together with said valve seat through said seat-removing opening, a valve stem, said stem being unattached to said valve, and means for closing said seat-removing openm I1. In a mixing device, the combination of a casing having oppositely disposed inlet openings for stem and cold water and oppositely disposed openings for the escape of heated water and for the entry and removal of valve members, a valve seat member removably mounted within said casing and provided with an axial opening, a valve guided in said axial opening a thermostat located in the heated-water outlet, an actuating stem acting to transmit motion from said thermostat to said valve, a spring acting in opposition to said thermostat, and a spring container, said spring container being adapted to close the opening for the removal of said valve members.

12. In a mixer, the combination of a casing having entrance openings for the fluids to be mixed, a valve in said casing, a removable valve seat, a thermostat for moving said valve in one direction, and a spring for moving it in an opposite direction, a casing for said spring, said spring casing being seated in an opening in said casing adjacent to said valve seat, the opening for said spring casing being of such size as to permit of the entry and removal of said seat therethrough, substantially as described.

13. In a mixing device, the combination of a casing having two oppositely disposed openings for fluids to be mixed and two oppositely disposed openings for the accommodation of a spring casing and a thermostat casing, respectively, a wall biseoting said casing and lying substantially in a plane transverse to said last mentioned openings, said Wall having a threaded opening axially alined with said last mentioned openings, a valve seat member mounted in threaded engagement with said threaded opening, a valve member slidably mounted in said seat member, and a spring casing removably mounted in said spring casing opening, substantially as described.

14;. In a mixing device, the combination of a valve casing having inlet openings for hot and cold fluids and likewise provided with openings for the reception of a thermostat casing and a spring casing, respectively, a valve mounted in said valve casing, a thermostat for actuating said valve in one direction and a spring in said spring casing for actuating it in an opposite direction,

and a diffuser surrounding said valve, said diffuser being adapted to be clamped in place by said thermostat casing, substan tially as described.

Signed at Chicago, Illinois, of February, 1917.

MORTON O. SNEDIKER. Witnesses:

H. E. RIGGS, W.A. EMINGER.

this 20th day 

